Name dedication at Speedway truly an honor

Monday

DAYTONA BEACH -- Robin Braig has a humorous story about attempting to name some infield access areas during the 2005 garage/paddock renovation at Daytona International Speedway.

"I had some ideas for names of roads, stuff like 'Kenny Schrader Lane,' " the DIS president said. "Bill Jr. called me over to his office and gave me a firm talking to about Daytona is hallowed ground and how he didn't take lightly to me naming streets, grandstands, buildings and landmarks.

"He told me I should probably put a little more thought into that. So instead of 'Schrader Lane' we have Orange Lane and Yellow Lane."

Getting your name dedicated at Daytona is difficult. The last dedication was for seven-time NASCAR champ Dale Earnhardt, who had a frontstretch grandstand area named in his honor in 2001.

When Bill France Sr. opened DIS in 1959, most of the grandstands were named for racing pioneers, who chased the Land Speed Record on the sands of Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach.

When France settled here in 1935, he witnessed Sir Malcolm Campbell's last LSR run from the dunes. Campbell was driving the Bluebird, which is on display at DIS.

"Bill France Sr. took into consider Daytona Beach's place in racing history by honoring those that helped pioneer racing in this area," Braig said.

France later added grandstands named after fallen drivers such as Joe Weatherly and Fireball Roberts.

Braig hopes the next dedication goes to Bill France Jr., who transformed Daytona into a world-class facility.

"Yes, I think Bill's contributions make him one of the biggest candidates to have his name dedicated at Daytona," Braig said. "It's that level of contributor that is reserved for Daytona."

Braig said there is no special committee that makes these dedication decisions. He said all dedications come right from the top.

"Any ideas we have for naming things at the Speedway goes straight to the France family," he said. "This is clearly something that Bill France Sr. and Bill Jr. took very seriously."

Who's who at DIS

DePalma Tower

Ralph DePalma was a man of derring-do. He made headlines around the world in 1919 behind the wheel of his 12-cylinder Packard on the beach. He broke 12 speed records over the course of six days. His top overall speed was 149.875 mph in the measured mile. His standing start mile run remained in the record books for 36 years.

Earnhardt Tower

Dale Earnhardt was a seven-time Cup champion, who made the Speedway his playground. He holds the record for most DIS wins (34), captured the 1998 Daytona 500 and won 10 consecutive qualifying races. The Earnhardt seats were named in January 2001. About one month later, he died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. There is also a bronze statue of Earnhardt outside of the Daytona 500 Experience.

Roberts Tower

Named in honor of Fireball Roberts, who was NASCAR's first breakout star. Roberts, who lived in Daytona Beach, helped usher in the superspeedway age in the early 1960s, setting speed records at all the new, big, paved ovals. He was particularly successful at Daytona, where he won the 1962 Daytona 500 from the pole. He sat on the 500 pole three straight years, 1961-63.

Lockhart Tower

Frank Lockhart has been described as a mathematics and mechanical genius during his short career in racing. He won the 1926 Indianapolis 500, and he raced dirt and board tracks. He was famous here for pursuing the mystical Land Speed Record on the beaches of Ormond and Daytona. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, and raised in California, where he became hooked on racing.

Campbell Tower

Sir Malcolm Campbell was so beloved by people in this area, the Englishman was named an honorary citizen of Daytona Beach. Campbell was the last driver to attempt a Land Speed Record run on the beach. His two-run average in 1935 was 276.82 mph -- good for the world record. His Bluebird racing machine was restored and now resides inside the Daytona 500 Experience.

Keech Tower

Ray Keech hailed from Philadelphia and was an aggressive race driver. He captured the 1929 Indianapolis 500 and set a Land Speed Record on the beach here. Keech died in a crash later that year in Altoona, Pa. The accident destroyed a section of track, which could not be fixed, so officials named Keech the race winner.

Oldfield Tower

Barney Oldfield's first claim to fame was driving Henry Ford's first race car -- the No. 999 Ford. He roared down the beach in 1904 Daytona time trials driving the Winton Bullet No. 2. Six years later, he set the Land Speed Record of 131.275 mph in a Blitzen Benz. The cigar-chomping, dirt tracker would later become president of Eastern Airlines.

Petty Tower

Richard Petty won the Daytona 500 seven times during his storied, 35-year career as a race driver. Petty's last career victory was right out a story book. In 1984, "The King" beat Cale Yarborough in the closing laps of the Coke Zero 400 with President Ronald Reagan watching from a VIP suite. It was Petty's 200th, and final, victory of his driving career.

Segrave Tower

Sir Henry Segrave was a speed pioneer in England. He brought his magic to the United States, where he battled for the Land Speed Record in his Sunbeam machine. He became the first driver to break the 200-mph mark on the beach. In 1927, he was clocked at 203.79 mph. Segrave also made speed boat runs in the Halifax River.

Weatherly Tower

Joe Weatherly, NASCAR's "Clown Prince of Racing" because of his numerous practical jokes, won 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and two championships. Weatherly jumped to stock cars from racing dirt bikes. He came to NASCAR as a former AMA national champion. He never won a 500 or 400 but did capture two qualifying races (1961-62).

Lund Tower

On the backstretch

His real name was DeWayne Louis Lund, but everybody in the garage called him "Tiny" because he stood about 6-foot-5. Lund was a standout in NASCAR's Grand American division, but his greatest day came at Daytona in 1963 when he drove the Wood Brothers Racing Ford to victory in the Daytona 500. He was subbing for Marvin Panch, who suffered burn injuries only days before testing a sportscar.

Allison Tower

On the backstretch

Bobby Allison is all over the place in the Daytona record book. He remains as the oldest driver to win either the Daytona 500 or Coke Zero 400. Allison's last victory in the 500 came in 1988 and was a family affair. He beat his oldest son Davey to the checkered flag. Allison captured his only NASCAR title in 1983.

Bill France Room

Banquet room inside the Daytona 500 Experience

When the Daytona 500 Experience, formerly Daytona USA, was built in 1996, Bill France Jr. dedicated the upstairs banquet hall in his father's name. Bill France Sr. founded NASCAR and built Daytona International Speedway on a shoestring budget in 1958. The first Daytona 500 was held in 1959. There is a statue of Bill Sr. and his wife Anne outside the facility.

Earl Trophy

Daytona 500 trophy inside Daytona 500 Experience

Harley J. Earl designed passenger and race cars for General Motors and became fast friends with Bill France Sr. The Harley J. Earl Perpetual Trophy is not given to the winner of the Daytona 500. The winner's name is inscribed on it. The 500 winner receives a smaller replica of it. The 500's winning crew chief receives the Cannonball Baker Trophy while the car owner gets the Governor's Cup.

Rodriguez Turn

West horseshoe turn on infield course

Pedro Rodriguez had an unbelievable racing career, which included four sportscar victories at Daytona. He captured the Speed Weeks sportscar race in 1963-64 and 1970-71. He is the only foreign-born driver whose name is associated with a part of the racetrack property. The east horseshoe turn is known as the International Turn.

Lake Lloyd

Barrow pit inside the Speedway

When NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. settled here in 1935, J. Saxton Lloyd gave him his first job in this area, as a mechanic at Daytona Motor Company (later, Lloyd Buick-Cadillac). Before the track was even built, Lloyd was chairman of the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreation Facilities District, a quasi-government entity, which to this day leases more than 400 acres of land to ISC where the track stands.

Monaco Care Center

Across from the Sprint Cup garage

Dr. Al Monaco was the first medical director at Daytona International Speedway. Monaco, a lifelong resident of Daytona Beach, was a civic leader when the track first opened. He continued to serve as DIS medical director into the early 1970s. The rear wing of the Care Center is named after Bob Baughman, who oversaw the EMS section of the facility.

Lawing Press Box

Atop the east side of the Sprint Tower

When NASCAR was incorporated in 1948, Houston Lawing served the organization as vice president for promotions. When the Speedway opened for business, Lawing was hired in 1959 as DIS publicity director and worked at the track until his retirement in 1980.

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